Kennedy Center Names Rick Canny Artistic Director Amid Staff Concerns Over Fees
Having previously managed talent such as ZZ Top and Tommy Lee, the former Mötley Crüe drummer, Rick Canny has assumed the position of new artistic director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, npr.org reported.
Consultant Named to Permanent Artistic Role Amid Staff Concerns
The appointment was announced Thursday to high-level staff by Matt Floca, the executive director and chief operating officer of the Kennedy Center, through an email obtained by npr.org. Canny takes on the artistic director role after previously serving as a consultant to the institution since shortly after President Trump assumed the position of chairman in February 2025.
According to the announcement made by Floca, Canny is set to offer direction regarding artistic strategy, business operations, artist and event curation, ticketing and pricing structures, media ventures, and sponsorship opportunities for programming. Canny’s firm, Favor the Artist, has handled the creative lead for major institutional events including the Kennedy Center Honors and the Mark Twain Prize since April 2025. The institution confirmed the contents of Floca’s email, though neither the Kennedy Center nor Canny responded to multiple requests for comment from npr.org regarding the appointment.
Financial Disclosures and Internal Memos Detail Consulting Fees
The leadership selection moves forward following internal staff complaints regarding Canny’s business practices and expenses during his tenure as a consultant. According to an internal memo from March written by the center’s then-senior director of music programming, Sammy Miller, Canny billed the institution $30,000 in consulting fees for a single month in early 2026. A separate month incurred over $28,000 in fees and travel expenses, which included two first-class round-trip flights between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
The Kennedy Center addressed the fee figures in a statement to The New York Times on Friday, asserting that the $30,000 amount did not reflect Canny’s current agreement while declining to provide specifics. The institution also noted that his travel expenses had undergone a review. In his internal memo sent to Floca and human resources, Miller stated that he attempted to address his concerns through the center’s general counsel and finance office, but reported that both offices appeared to be protecting Canny. Miller did not respond to subsequent requests for comment from npr.org.
Venue Closures and Legal Battles Contextualize Leadership Changes
Public access to the Kennedy Center has been suspended since September as the institution and its board—primarily selected by President Trump—fight a federal court battle to shutter the facility for two years to accommodate large-scale renovations. Public statements and court filings from the center consistently describe the organization as being on the verge of bankruptcy. Trump asserted last month that the arts venue has lost hundreds of millions of dollars, though he has not provided evidence to support the claim. Trump also threatened last month to tear down the building if his name is not prominently displayed on the structure.
While the facility remains largely closed, leadership maintains a minimal schedule of public and educational programming. Arts administrators across the country have pointed out to npr.org that major performing arts centers typically schedule performances years in advance. The center’s prior head of programming came and left in January after serving just two weeks in the position. Canny’s professional background listings reflect limited experience in programming traditional performing arts center staples such as orchestras, theater troupes, dance companies, and marquee contemporary soloists, and Favor the Artist maintains no public record of its client roster or corporate history.